Page 21 of Innocent's Wedding Day with the Italian

If her dad could see it now his face would be alight with that snaggle-toothed grin Rebecca missed so much.

The tears spilled out unbidden, and before she could stop herself, she ignored Enzo’s outstretched hand to throw her arms around him and sob into his chest.

There was only the briefest hesitation before he wrapped his arms around her. One arm tight around her back, a hand cradling her head, his chin resting on her hair, he did nothing but hold her close, tenderly, wordlessly letting her purge the deluge of emotions she’d fought so hard to contain.

By the time her chest stopped heaving and the tears slowed to a trickle, his T-shirt was soaked.

She lifted her face. There was a tightness to Enzo’s features, different to the hardness from the dining room, as if he’d had to clamp the muscles of his face to stop himself from speaking.

‘Thank you,’ she whispered. The restoration of her father’s car might only have been made possible due to Enzo’s limitless funds but he’d thought to make it happen. For her. Because he knew how much it meant to her.

He gave a taut smile. ‘I didn’t mean to make you cry.’ And then he winced as if remembering that he’d already made her cry an ocean of tears that long, long day.

‘You didn’t.’ She swallowed to clear her throat. ‘I’m just really feeling it today. Missing them.’

His face contorted into another wince. The fingers cradling her head threaded through her hair, the thumb from his other hand brushing away the dampness beneath her eyes. ‘That’s my fault.’

She couldn’t argue with that. But she wanted to. Wanted to excuse him. Forgive him. Move her face the few inches needed for their lips to fuse together and find the dizzying joy his deep, passionate kisses always filled her with. Let him break her heart again.

And from the pulsing in his eyes, Enzo was fighting the same temptation too.

Breaking out of his hold, she stepped back, straight into the side of one of his Porsches.

But she couldn’t break the fusion of their eyes. Couldn’t tear her gaze from his.

And neither could he tear his gaze from her.

Eyes still holding hers, he dropped to his knees. She didn’t know he’d dropped the key until he picked it off the ground and pressed it into her hand. His touch sent shocks of electricity darting through her skin.

The lock of their eyes somehow even stronger, hot, dark desire swirling in his, Enzo closed her fingers around the key. She could hear the shortness of his breaths. It matched the shortness of hers. The only other sound was the roar of blood in her ears, a roar that deafened when fingers gripped her hip as he rose, and hot breath danced over her mouth before she closed her eyes.

CHAPTER SEVEN

REBECCANEVERNEEDEDto muster any resistance because the kiss never happened. Enzo’s lips barely brushed against hers before he shot back as if he’d actually been shot.

He blew out a long breath and gripped a hank of his hair. ‘I apologise,’ he said stiffly.

Rebecca covered her flaming cheeks, mortified that he’d been the one to stop their kiss before it had even started. She’d been too far gone to stop it. Too caught in his spell.

It destroyed her that despite everything, her need for him was as strong as it had ever been whereas his control was a tap he could turn on and off at will.

He must have read something of what she was thinking on her face because suddenly he closed the gap he’d just made between them. His hands cradled her face roughly, his breath once again hot on her face. ‘Do not think like this,cara,’ he said savagely, then caught her hand, dragging it down his hard chest and abdomen and pressing it between his legs. ‘Feel that and tell me I don’t want you.’

Her breath hitched, eyes widening at the thick hardness straining against the denim of his jeans. A low, heady thrill rushed through her making her already watery legs weaken at the knees.

‘I want you more than I have ever wanted anyone and I would give anything...’ His nostrils flared. ‘Anythingto make you mine. But I will not manipulate your emotions to my advantage. I will not be that man again.’

And then he released her completely and walked away.

Rebecca, still backed against the Porsche, stared at his retreating form, in too deep a stupor to even move her feet let alone comprehend what he’d just said.

Moments later, he disappeared into the elevator.

Rebecca brushed her teeth as hard as she could to scrub the taste of her own desire from her mouth. She’d taken another shower to wash the fever from her skin but all her efforts to sanitise herself against Enzo were fruitless. Every time she closed her eyes she felt his hardness against her hand. Every time, the pulse between her legs throbbed in response.

The purge of her tears had catharized everything except her desire.

How could she still ache so badly for him? After everything he’d done? So he’d done one good thing with the restoration of her father’s car? That didn’t change anything else or excuse him.

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